Evaluating georisk for infrastructure engineering projects

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The proposed research program is focussed on risk management of geohazards affecting infrastructure. This includes, in Canada, 40,000 km of railway tracks, current and proposed tunnels in Ontario and BC, and mining infrastructure in Ontario. The objective of this research is to pro-actively assess the risks associated with these geohazards so as to optimize site investigation, further define best practices for material property characterisation and continue to lead development of state of the art engineering analysis of the stability and design of these structures. In addition, the risk based approach will help to optimize expenditures on stability improvement / risk reduction measures. The outcomes of the research will positively affect risk management, enhancing public and worker safety, maximizing infrastructure operation and reducing expenses when geohazards do affect the infrastructure. ** The research program will include work on a number of sites involving rail infrastructure (White Canyon, BC; Algoma Central Railway, Ont.), rail and tunnel infrastructure (Heron Bay, Ont.), and mining infrastructure (Sudbury, Timmins, Ontario). The objectives of the program include quantification of material property uncertainty, development of behavioural modelling techniques incorporating variability, development of unified multi-hazard analysis methodology, quantification of design reliability, and development of the risk-consequence approach, based on recent work in South African mining risk management. Examining risk management for these infrastructure types builds on advances being made in individual parts of the industry. ** Students to be recruited to the research program over the next five years, include 3 undergraduate employees, 5 masters and 3 doctoral students. They will work on the most pressing problems associated with geohazards, and will develop a world class skill set including use of state of the art numerical simulation and geotechnical imaging tools. All projects involve working directly with industrial and government research collaborators, including CN Rail, CP, Transport Canada, Quadra FNX, XStrata, Vale and NRCan.**